TAMPA, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A unique program focused on treating anxiety, mood, and
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders among youth
with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) leads a series of new and existing
program expansions for kids and teens at Rogers
Behavioral Health–Tampa Bay, beginning March 6.

Kids with ASD often also deal with anxiety, mood or OCD and related
disorders that co-occur with their ASD diagnosis. Due to the social,
emotional and behavioral difficulties that can result from this
combination of disorders, providers and parents often feel overwhelmed.
It can be difficult to know where to go for help, particularly given how
challenging it is to find specialists who understand the unique needs of
kids with ASD and co-occurring mental health conditions.

“This program will complement and support referring providers, patients
and families who deal with the complexity of autism spectrum disorder,
by providing treatment for significant co-occurring mental health
disorders,” says Eric
Storch, PhD, clinical director of Rogers–Tampa Bay and also a
professor at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, University of
South Florida. “Our focus on these significant behavioral health
disorders can significantly reduce mental health symptoms and greatly
increase the overall functioning and quality of life for these kids and
their families.”

Rogers’ Anxiety and Mood Disorders program for children and adolescents
with ASD is the only one in the Tampa area to offer partial
hospitalization, which consists of treatment for six hours a day. While
Rogers’ specialists currently help patients with ASD through existing
OCD and anxiety programs, they see a real benefit to having a program
specifically focused on this group of kids.

“Our core approach to treatment remains the same, using intensive,
evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy,” says Josh
Nadeau, PhD, the clinical psychologist who will direct this new
program. “But this program gives us the opportunity to bring our highly
trained specialists—a hallmark of the Rogers treatment model—to address
the unique needs of these patients.”

New teen programs for mood disorders and eating disorders

Other new treatment programs for teens
with mood disorders and youth
with eating disorders also launch March 6. In addition, existing
programs for adults with mood disorders and for children, teens and
adults with OCD and anxiety disorders will increase capacity. With this
expansion, Rogers–Tampa Bay will be able to treat up to 88 children,
teens and adults daily.

Rogers–Tampa Bay opened in September 2014, bringing its nationally
recognized intensive, specialized outpatient care for OCD to the local
area. Additional services for adult mood disorders and for eating
disorders in children, teens and adults opened in 2015. Rogers offers
day treatment for three to six hours per day, five days a week,
depending on the program.

“These new offerings demonstrate Rogers’ commitment to deliver highly
specialized and innovative psychiatric services in the communities we
serve,” remarks Patrick Hammer, president and CEO of Rogers Behavioral
Health. “It is our goal to continue expanding services in the Tampa Bay
area as we work to fill unmet behavioral health needs.”

For more information, call 844-220-4411 to learn about services in Tampa
Bay, 800-767-4411 for services across the system, or visit rogersbh.org.